WINGS stands for Women (and men) Involved In Gaining Self-sufficiency. The goal of the program is to offer specialized services for individuals wanting to return to school, upgrade their job skills, or find a new career direction, in order to become economically self-sufficient as they work to reach economic self-sufficiency.

In order to qualify for the program, a participant must be one of the following:

• Single parent: An individual who is unmarried, widowed or legally separated from a spouse and who has custody or joint custody of a minor child or children, or who is pregnant.
• Displaced homemaker: An adult who is married or divorced and is seeking more education, or looking to update job skills in order to re-enter the job force or find a new career direction.

Among the skills the program focuses on are:

• Self-exploration and development
• Overcoming personal barriers to education and employment
• Life and career planning
• Job-seeking skills

To help facilitate this learning, the program offers:

• Information and referral for educational and job training opportunities
• Provide support services such as counseling, support group, academic advising
• Some financial assistance for child care, transportation, tuition and books while the student is involved with the program

The WINGS program is most effective when it is taken before entering college or a job training program. The instructors help each participant build their self-confidence, find a direction and lay a strong foundation as they work to become self-sufficient. If participants are already in school or training, the program can be a support for the student, as well as provide them with information, problem solving and modeling.

Participants enroll in the program's Life Planning class, which focuses on self-exploration and development, personal relationship issues and life and career planning. Students also participate in a career mentoring program. Following completion of the program, participants can join workshops, group activities, a support group focused on problem resolution and stress management, as well as other educational and employment opportunities.

WINGS is a member of Oregon Women Work!, a statewide network of transition programs. Seventeen programs throughout Oregon offer similar services helping students gain self-sufficiency; WINGS is the only program of the consortium located in Eastern Oregon.